22 SEALS OF THE SHETLAND ISLANDS. 



collect any thing remarkable. Their tenaciousness of life is 

 peculiarly great. Of this the experienced hunter is so con- 

 scious, that, unless he can be pretty certain of striking the 

 brain, he hardly ever thinks of taking aim at them. I have 

 known a common seal swim 300 yards under water after 

 being pierced through the centre of the heart by a large 

 rifle ball. Their muscular power is also very great. I 

 know no animal of equal size approaching them in this re- 

 spect. 



It has been inferred, from the size and form of the cranial 

 cavity relatively to the body and face of the P. barbata, as 

 compared with the vitulina* that the former animal is natu- 

 rally stupid and ferocious. As a general principle, admit- 

 ting of many exceptions, it may be assented to, that the re- 

 lative volume of the brain may indicate degrees in the scale 

 of intellect. But we must also attend to quality, to form, 

 and to development of certain parts, as well as to the volume 

 of the whole, and we can hardly, I suspect, believe that we 

 are yet arrived so far in its anatomy and physiology as to 

 determine the respective value of each of these conditions ; 

 and these difficulties are greatly increased when we have to 

 compare one species with another, unless we believe that 

 every thing depends on structure — that we are accurate 

 judges of what is and what is not perfect organization — and 

 that there is no difference (if I may so speak) in the anima 

 of each species. Thus, if in two vitulinas of equal age, size, 

 sex, &c, we find one having a larger, and, in our idea, a 

 better formed brain than the other, we may entertain the 

 opinion, that he is likely the more intellectual ; but, if we ap- 

 preciate the capacities of two individuals of different species, 

 we may err egregiously. In the comparative intellects of 

 the great and common seal, I cannot say that long and close 

 observation of them, either in a domestic or a wild state, has 



